Vallejo neighbors confront, block alleged car thief

A man allegedly caught in the act of tearing out the dashboard of a car parked on Marshall Way on Wednesday night was met with some unhappy residents.

Vallejo police received a call around 11:40 p.m. that a man was seen entering a car that was not his and trying to start the vehicle, Lt. Kenny Park said.

When his efforts failed, the man, later identified as 35-year-old Timothy Burris, a transient, allegedly began ripping out the dashboard in an attempt to steal its stereo, Park said.

Neighbors, who called police, reportedly confronted the suspect with some kind of stick, leading Burris to allegedly try to punch one of them and flee on foot, Park said. Officers arriving on the scene apprehended him soon after.

After Burris was taken to jail, police received a call reporting that their car had been stolen -- matching the description of the vehicle Burris had reportedly driven to Marshall Way, Park said. Suspicion of vehicle theft charge was added to Burris' rap sheet.